This is the city: Los Angeles, California. I work here. I'm an ex-mayor. Los Angeles is a magnet for people from all over the world. Some of them run for public office. Inevitably some of them stray from the golden rule and rule for those that have the gold. That's when I go to work. My name is Yorty. I'm a dead pol.

"How To Drive Away Business and Tourism In The City of Los Angeles" -- by Eric Garcetti

Way to create national and international goodwill for the City of Los Angeles, with your "business and tourism kryptonite" memo regarding LAX hotels. LA Daily News ran the brilliant PR strategy, from the Rhodes Scholar, on the front page of their very excellent newspaper, that is much better than the LA Times.

Apparantley, the "King of Campaign Contributions" and the brains behind so many shady-unconstitutional ordinances that ZD's head is about to explode after a year's worth of agenda items -- feels that it IS in the City's best interest to circulate a memo (now seen internationally), urging people to boycott LAX hotels; and instead, "book at locations in the city away from the LAX area."

One problem, Garshady: People who are staying at LAX are staying there because they want to be close to the airport. Maybe they don't want to travel through way too much traffic, to get the the overly expensive Downtown. So if you suggest that to an organization whose Convention business you are trying so desparatley to attract, to move the travelling circus downtown...we'll now you've just driven the cost up and they cross L.A. off the list.

HEY ERIC, HOW ABOUT THIS...ZUMA DOGG SAYS WHY NOT JUST PUT UP GIANT BILLBOARDS RIGHT ON CENTURY BLVD SAYING, "Just Have It In Vegas!" That could be the City's new marketing campaign, City Council..."Just Have It In Vegas."

AND, how about THIS billboard along the 405 and 10 freeway, for people all the people who took Eric up on the memo and moved it Downtown, and are now stuck in gridlock traffic: "Next time, have it in Vegas...Only a ten minute drive from the airport and much more fun." (copyright 2007 Zuma Dogg All Rights Reserved)

FROM DAILY NEWS: "In my 32 years of Chamber of Commerce experience, it is unprecedented for an elected official to communicate with out-of-town visitors discouraging their patronage of a local business," said Gary Toebben, president of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and a vocal opponent of the living wage ordinance.

"A letter like this sends the wrong message about Los Angeles and to Los Angeles businesses that are trying to attract customers to this region."

Michael Collins of L.A. Inc., the agency responsible for luring conventions to the city, said he worries that the letter could discourage some people from visiting the city.

Matt Szabo, a spokesman for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, said the mayor had not seen the letter and was unavailable for comment Thursday. [ERIC, that means the Mayor is gonna blast yo' azz, if he ever gets back to Los Angeles!]

"This is a labor dispute, and the government should not be sending out letters like this," Englander said. "The last time I looked, the convention and tourism business brings in a lot of money to the city. I don't see how it is responsible for a city official to get involved like this."

ENTIRE DAILY NEWS ARTICLE: How To Drive Away Buisness And Tourism -- by Eric Garcetti And thanks to Daily News for printing ZD's insightful comments on LAUSD reform, because Daily News knows, any SERIOUS discussion about "fixing' the schools MUST includes ZD's Deming-based philosophy. Thanks!

Our City Council and Mayor must be the stupidest people in the world. Why did we spend money to wine and dine the olympic committee to have the olympics here if the tourist can't stay at hotels?

The council president must be on moron to believe that this is going to help us get the olympic games. Why did we bother to apply?

When Eric talks you can almost see the unions with their hand underneath his shirt moving his lips like a dummy.

Our council is a disgrace and all they can do is tell people not to stay in LA because of some stupid union dispute with some hotels. Didn't the City lose a lawsuit against it by Yellow Cab about twenty years ago when it got involved in union forming. That case even went to the Supreme Court the city lost and had to pay millions of dollars.

That is what is going to happen in this case. Eric and the other fools should be made to pay out their own pocket when this lawsuit comes.

Eric doesn't care he is rich, and doesn't care if they increase trash fees to pay for stupid actions the council takes.

Regular people who already pay too much for housing because of all the red tape it takes to build new housing will pay for this folly in increased taxes and reduced revenue from tourism.

Dumb ass move on ERic's part. Is he speaking for all clowncil members? LA will become a sanctuary with illegals because we have morons on council who don't give a shit about the legal residents and spend all their time supporting illegals. I would sue the city for this one. I hope Hilton HOtels crucify them.

Antonio finally came out with his newsletter again taking credit for stuff he had nothing to do with. This is the biggest lie of all:The city is currently evaluating its Community Development Departmentto determine which anti-gang models are working, and which are not. Recently, the Mayor met with the U.S. Attorney General to ask forfederal support for these initiatives. They toured Homeboy Industries,a successful program offering work alternatives, tattoo removal, jobsupport, and counseling to former gang members. In Boyle Heights, where this program is concentrated, gang crime has dropped by 44% in the pasttwo years, while in the surrounding areas it has risen 30%.

LIE LIE LIE LIE. FATHER GANG BANGER BOYLE DOESN'T HAVE ONE SINGLE GANG INTERVENTION-PREVENTION PERSON IN THE COMMUNITY. CRIME IN BOYLE HEIGHTS IS AT THE BOTTOM OF ALL DIVISIONS FOR INCREASE IN CRIME. FATHER GANG BANGER USES MILLIONS HE GETS TO HAVE ATTORNEYS REP HIS GANG BANGERS. PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY DON'T LIKE THIS SO CALLED PRIEST. WORD IS THE CATHOLIC CHURCH GOT RID OF HIS SORRY BUTT. SOMEONE SHOULD INVESTIGATE HOMEBOY AND FIND OUT HOW MUCH MONEY HAS BEEN GIVEN TO POLITICIAL CAMPAIGNS.

The following should be placed on billboards near every airport, bus station, train station (including, but not limited to Union Station), and every Los Angeles City Limits sign:

Welcome to Los Angeles! We’re #1:

#1 In crimes against tourists!#1 In Illegal immigrants!#1 In service industries!#1 In driving away businesses!#1 In political correctness!#1 In gangbangers!#1 In gridlock!#1 In drive-by shootings!#1 In taxes!#1 in road disrepair!#1 in wrong-way drivers!#2 in crooked politicians, just behind the State of Louisiana – but we’re trying really hard to be #1!

When I make a call on the radio, appear on City TV 35, blog on mayor sam...OR HAVE MY COMMENTS PRINTED IN TODAY'S LA DAILY NEWS REGARDING SCHOOL REFORM, no one cares about degrees y'all...just the realest, dough! ZD don't need to be no Rhodes scholar...he's a Roads Scholar...and he just "schooled" yo azz...BE-ATCH! No go greet some lobbyists sitting in the front row next to Zuma Dogg.

Fool. The lobbyists stand in the back; they don't want the limelight, they leave it for clowns like you.

I notice you sidestepped the request for your degrees, thus we must conclude that you have none. Figures. Too bad, you might actually have learned some effectiveness if you had made it into university.

I wish I can stand in the back and not have to go on camera, too. you think I like going on camera, but I spent most of my life trying to stay OFF camera and mic, as a writer -- instead of on-camera actor and in radio -- as programmer instead of DJ.

Since I was getting my material ripped-off, I decided to go on camera and deliver it myself...so I created ZD.

But how much do you think I like going on camera if I wear hat and glasses to try and protect my identity off camera? (In other words to try and SHUN recognizability you claim I am striving for.)

And I was basically a Jack Weiss kinda guy BEFORE Zuma Dogg -- I didn't like to talk to people, too much, and wasn't the warmest guy. (If I could avoid saying, "Hello" to you, I would -- ZERO time for small talk.) So after six years of daily recognition from people on the streets, from my Public Access Comedy/Variety show, I became comfortable with the public, and the past six years has basically been one, big focus group for me, every time I walk on into the public. (AND NOW I LOVE IT -- AND AFTER A LIFETIME OF BITTERNESS, NOW DO FEEL BLESSED. (Even though I still feel bitter, too...But at least now, it's both.)

And, I am COMFORTABLE on camera, but that doesn't mean I wish I could stand in the back with the people BUYING their way back there.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, AFTER ONE YEAR OF ZD ON CITY TV -- HERE IS SOMETHING YOU MADE ME THINK OF...LET ZD STAND IN BACK AND TALK TO THE CMs -- AND I WON'T HAVE TO DO IT ON CAMERA.

THAT, would be a win-win for both parties. ZD wouldn't have to go on camera like an organ grinder's performing monkey, and City Hall wouldn't have to have ZD ask the questions and draw the conclusions on LIVE TV, 12 times a week. (Each meeting is aired 4 times per week x 3.)

Herb or Zine...maybe you can broker that deal and holla at ya boy with a press pass and let me take off the hat and glasses, y'all...The hat is so hot and sweaty -- and the glasses are so dark, and they give me a headache.

Regarding education: I went to Ohio State for four years, but didn't graduate, cause my radio career kicked in while still taking classes. And there was no way I was gonna put the brakes on a career, in favor of reading about it in class.

I took all the requirements and more...the top level math and sciences eluded me -- but the main thing regarding ZD's "Roads Scholar" eduaction is: everything I learned that I have applied to City Hall this past year occured after my traditional education. All the best stuff, they don't teach you in school because it goes against the grain of conventional wisdom.

And even though Eric is at a disadvantage because of his institutionalized, conforming knowlege of traditional education, I know Eric is also well rounded in other analytical areas, and he MUST have known how badly this PR would turn out. So the ONLY thing I can think of is, he must have had some deal with the devil, and they called in their chip. Cause I flaunt stuff, and rub it in the haters faces (if they would stop hating, I would stop boasting -- or at least cut WAY back) -- but there's NOTHING ZD says that everyone else doesn't already know...The rise of ZD just shows what a bunch of Bad News Bears are in charge at City Hall. It's just bad decision making, and lack of instincts -- because the people running the City are greedy and fearful of the next shoe to drop as a result...

And Dr. Deming wasn't available for comment, but, Lil Johnnie Cochran says, "Villaraigosa and LA City Council is horrifying, terrorizing, not satisfying -- it's gentrifying. STOP ALL THE LYING...or y'all will be TESTIFYING..And THAT's no denying!

that was a great point zd - fear is what drives these bastards. that's why they are trolling mayor sam's blog on a friday night just to call you names. someone is afraid of something and if they would just play by the rules there would be nothing to fear.

It would be great to get to issues instead of the Zuma bashing. When all the dust settles, we are still stuck with the bought-off crews (the politicians, of course) who will not address truly important quality-of-life issues in Los Angeles.

Another student is dead. Where our the "leaders" in the city? Off attending to another "priority" of their own- anything but putting in some real work on what needs to be done here in this city.

That's our Mayor and his disciples for you.

And the tactic of diverting attention away from these matters of that are delivered by ZD does not cure the problem. Even more telling is the "tagging" showing up here. That's barely Junior high stuff. Like farting in a crowd, it's a bit disruptive, and not at all productive.

Construct some sentences; convey a thought or two on a topic. Support your position. Share some ideas not ignorance.

I'm shocked at Garcetti sending out that letter to thousands of past guests. Where did he get their addresses is what reporters should be asking. Lame ass move Eric and a horrible message to be sending to the rest of the city. What about all the other businesses that don't have living wage ordinances, isn't your bone head move somewhat discriminatory??

....Garcetti didn't come up with the idea for it himself, nor did he mail it to all those prospective visitors. Instead, he wrote it at the behest of Unite Here, a union that represents hospitality workers. Unite Here, which has been trying to unionize Hilton workers, sent copies of the letter to hundreds of groups that have held events there.

Garcetti cautioned prospective visitors to stay away from the Hilton "to protect your event," pointing them to Unite Here's meetings and conventions department as one way to find replacement venues. With welcoming letters like that, event organizers may soon start looking for replacement venues in other cities altogether.

What these idiot city council members fail to get is there are a lot of Latinos in this city who want stricter laws enforced on illegals. Mission Vejo just passed an ordiance where every employer has to use the US Homeland Secruity check FREE on their website and fill in the employee's social security they are giving. This prevents illegals from being hired and using fake social security numbers. Why doesn't the rest of the nation do the same? I wish we would get back to the 70's when Immigration use to go downtown to the garmet factories and RAID them to get rid of illegals.

Zuma is a quirky fella, but when he's right, he's...right!If Eric knows how the City works 3:34, let him write a book about it. I want somebody on the council who is going to change how this City works. Eric is a huge let down. Our Mayor and the majority who sit on the council only have their future jobs in mind and that's about it.